Submersible boat.



W. B. BARRINGER.

SUBMERSIBLE BOAT. APPLlcATlQn FILED MN. 16. 191s.

1,278,090. Patentedsept. 10,1918.

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Quorum# W. R. BARRINGER. SUBMERSIBLE BOAT. nrrucmpn msn JAN. 1s. me.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918,

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT voEEioEo WORTH R. BARRINGER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE SUBMERSIBLE BOAT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

SUBMERSIBLE BOAT.-

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed January 16, 1918. Serial No. 212,056.

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, WORTH R. BARRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State lof Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submersible Boats, of which the following is a specification.. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved submersible boat, and has for its primary object to provide a vessel of this character which is constructed to contain a single occupant,

and is vprovided with means' whereby the submergcnce of the vessel and its travel through the water may be controlled by the occupant.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vessel of the above character which is I very light in weight and can be conveniently employed in submarine observations, or inV the removal of submerged mines, and for various other analogous purposes.

And it is also a secondary though an important object of my invention to provide a. vessel of the above character, which is substantially in the nature of a diving suit and can be readilyr donned by the individual, the device therefore lending itself to use as a life-saving'apparatus to be carried upon passenger Steamers as a part of the equipment thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form or embodiment vof my yimproved submersible boat;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof;

Fig. Sis a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig-t isa section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Y

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5

designates the body of the boat or vessel which is preferably constructed of aluminmn or otherlight sheet metal and which may be of any approved form and construction. In the accompanying drawings I have shown the body of the vessel having a configuration simulating the form of an aquatic animal, said body having a nose indicated at G and provided in opposite sides of said nose portion with the transparent panes or windows, indicated at 7, and in its body portion with a similar transparent pane 8 whereby the operator may obtain a clear view so that he can readily avoid obstructions and properly guide the vessel to the desired anchorage or destination.

To the opposite end of the metal body 5, which is of contracted transversely elongated tubular form,a plate 9 is secured by means of a suitable water tight joint, and this plate carries the tubes or envelops 10 of rubber or other suitable flexible material to receive the legs of the operator. Upon the bottom wall of the body 5 a longitudinally extending support 11 is suitably secured or constructed, having its upper surface shaped so that the operator may lie` thereon without Vdiscomfort; inthe position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In a suitable compartment 12, preferably Vat the top or upper side ofthe body 5, an electric motor 13 is arranged and the motor shaft is operatively connected to the propeller shaft 15 by means of the endless chain 11 which extends around suitable guides indicated at 14 secured to the opposite walls of the body 5 of the vessel. The propeller 16 which is iXed upon the shaft 15 may be of any approved form.

If desired, in addition to the electric motor 13, a compressed air motor 17 may be provided, the latter beingl preferably arranged in the lower portion of the body 5 and operatively connected to the propeller shaft 15. This motor is suppliedwith compressed air fromA a storage tank indicated at 18. 20 designates a vent for thevitiated air and 21 air inlets or ventilators arranged in 'the top wall of the body 5. The vent 20 and ventilators 21 are provided with suitable 'valves1 preterablv ot the Heating ball type which will be automaticaily closed by the pressure ot' the water upon the sulunergenre ot' the vessel to prevent the entrance of water to the interior thereot'. said valves immediately opening when relieved ot such pressure. 2in electric light bulb is also arranged in the top wall ot the body immediately above the nose. t3 and may be supplied with currentt'roni suitable sli'nage batteries.

To the opgosite side-s ot the body 5 at the proper points sleeves 23 ot rubber or other suitable tlexible material are securely attached, said sleeves being equipped at their erx'tremitie`l with suitable gloves lto receive the hands ot the operator. It will oit course be understood that the connections of the gloves to the sleeves and of the sleeves to the sides ot' the vessel bod;v must be absolutely water tight to prevent the entrance ot water to the interior oit the vessel.. y Preterably` shoulder straps indicated at 2st are secured within the body 5 and are fastened around the shoulders of the occupant so that the weight ot' the vessel will be sustained Ytroni the shoulders when the occupant is walking or in a standing position.

To the underside ot the body 5 rearwardly ot the sight glass S a collapsible tank 25 is arranged. This tank 25 is equipped at itsy lower end with suitable valves indicated at QG and hand holds 2T adjacent to said valves. 2S designates a pipe or conduit connectingl the compres, V,d air tank 18 to the upper end ot the collapsible tank 25 and in this conduit a suitable valve 29 is located. The valves 2G and 2,9 may be o'tl any ordinary or approved form.

in the operation ot the vessel, when it is desired to subinerge the same. the tank 25 is collapse-d, the air being expelled from the tank through the valves 26. This results in the displacement ot the vessel so that it will subinerge. Then the operator desires to rise to the surface of the water, he with( raws his arm from one ofthe sleeves 23 and. opens valve 29 to release the compressed air from the storage tank 18 into the collapsible tank Q5, thus causing the vessel to rise to the surtace. It will be understood that7 it desired, the compressed air motor 17 may be dispensed with and the single electric motor 13 providmil for the propulsion ot the v Suitable means is ot course provided for the control ot the motor which may be operated trom the interior of the vessel, the occupant withdrawing his arins from the sleeves E23. lt will be further understood th a t the weight ot the vessel is so distributed that it will maintain a n even balance or keel in the water.

From the trnegoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the. construction, manner of use and several advantages of the invention will. be clearl and tully understood. rthe user first draws on the leg tubes or envelope l0 and the body ot the vessel is then lifted and moved downwardly over the body ot' the occupant., The plate 9 then tightly secured to the end ot the body 5. The entire apparatus may be readily supported and carried by the occupant when walking or standing without serious inconvenience, the device beingl comparatively light in weight. TheI invention thus attords means which may be advantageously used in submarine explorations, the removal of mines, repairing ships7 and also as a lite savino' device to pei-init steamer passengers to safely reach the shore when the steamer is sunk through collision or any other Cause. it will also be appreciated that the apparatus is relatively limple in its Construction and can therefore be produced at small manufacturing cost.

lilhile I have herein shown and described the preterred construction and arrangement ot the several parts employed, it is to be understood that the device is susceptible ot considerable inodications therein and l, therefore reserve the privilege ot adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Ot course it will be understood that the vessel may be provided with an oxygen supply tank so as to afford an ample supply ot oxygen during a prolonged submergence oit the vessel.

Having thus tully described my invention, what I claim is zl. A vessel ot the character described including a body portion open at one end, a closure plate for the open end of said body, means to support the body ot person within said vesselj exterior means controllable by the occupant to subinerge the vessel, flexible leg receiving envelops secured to said plate, and means tor propelling the vessel'through the water.

2. A vessel of the character described including a body portion open at one end and having means to support the body oit a perison within said vessel, a closure plate for the open end ot said body, tleXible leg receiving envelops secured to said plate, a collapsible tank secured to the under side ot the vessel, means operable by the occupant to control the ingress and egress of water and air to and from the tank, and means for propelling` the vessel through the water.

A vessel oit the character'1 described including a body having an entrance opening and a closure theretor, means within said vessel to support the body ot an occupant, a collapsible tank secured to the under side ot the vessel and controllable by the occupant to submerge the vessel, a source of com- In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my pxessed air flor sai? tank oalrred 1by the vessignature in the presence of two Witnesses.

se Water in et an air outset Va ves in one end of the collapsbleftank, a valve controL WORTH R BARRINGER' 5 ling the admission of compressed air to said Witnesses:

tank, and means for propelling the vessel S. DALEY,

through the Water. W. E. HANsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for :ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

